Just a reminder that Alexander Downer actually sought James Haire out after one of his trips to Maluku about two years ago, to ask his opinion of the situation there. Personally, I think James is a good example of someone who speaks out against injustice *and* preaches the gospel.
Sue On Fri, 29 Aug 2003 10:33:33 +1000, you wrote: >G'day All, > >Pass the bucket!! I suppose Downer would like it if the only people >commenting on political issues were the right wing think tanks who give him >his instructions. > >The point is, he sees "foreign policy" where the churches can see people >suffering. There is no doubt in my mind that Christians must continue to >decry all human suffering, and if that is an inconvenience for politicians, >then so be it. > >In fact, perhaps Downer's criticism is a sign that the churches are having >an effect. > >Kind regards, >Lindsay Brash. > > >At 10:21 AM 29/08/03 +1000, Stephen Webb wrote: >>from today's editorial in the oz: >><http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,7094017%255E7583,00.html>http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,7094017%255E7583,00.html >> >>Religious pulpit is no political bull-pit >> >>ALEXANDER Downer has issued a long-overdue jeremiad against church leaders >>who seek headlines by spouting forth on political issues about which they >>have no expertise. Predictably, some church leaders have accused the >>Foreign Minister of trying to silence them. He was doing no such thing. Mr >>Downer criticised church leaders who prefer the political limelight to >>their pastoral duties, and find it by grandstanding "on issues where the >>mind of the church itself is unresolved or not yet engaged". His gripe is >>not with church people who address the great issues of our time, but with >>those who indulge in partisan politicking, and apply to that activity a >>sense of moral certainty that simply does not translate from the spiritual >>plane. >> >>During the debate over the military campaign to topple Saddam Hussein, >>some Christian church leaders seemed more certain about the infamy of the >>campaign than they are about the resurrection. The Anglican Primate of >>Australia, Peter Carnley, who has declared "you can't be a conservative >>and a genuine Christian", could find nothing worse to say about Hussein >>than that he is "morally suspect". Mr Downer expressed his amazement at Dr >>Carnley's claim after the Bali bombing that Australians were targeted >>because of the Howard Government's preparedness to take action against >>Iraq. Dr Carnley's remarks were not only inflammatory it has since become >>obvious they were also dead wrong. >> >>Mr Downer said he found remarks by the outgoing president of the Uniting >>Church, James Haire, on the "political depravity" shown by both major >>parties over the Tampa boatpeople, "profoundly personally offensive as >>well as foolish". Professor Haire, who has a capacity to sound like a >>walking anti-globalisation website, was concluding his tenure as he began >>it: in his inaugural address in 2000, he referred to capitalism as "an >>evil empire". All that Mr Downer asks of religious leaders is that they >>"forgo the opportunity to be amateur commentators on all manner of secular >>issues on which they inevitably lack expertise, and instead find the spark >>of inspiration to give our lives greater moral and spiritual meaning". >> >>Amen. >>The cartoon is >>good but: >><http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/cartoon/>http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/cartoon/ >> >>(our elenie should get it framed and hung over her desk) >> >> >> >>-- >> >> >>Stephen Webb >>Media Officer >>Communications Unit >>NSW Synod, Uniting Church in Australia >>Box A2178, Sydney South, NSW 1235, Australia >>email: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>[EMAIL PROTECTED] >>Phone: +61 2 82674308; Fax: 92674716; Web: nsw.uca.org.au/cu/ & >>insights.uca.org.au/ >>------------------ >>The Communications Unit publishes the monthly magazine Insights, >>conducts public relations for the NSW Synod of the Uniting Church, and >>provides a variety of communications services. These include writing, >>editing, web consultation and development, desktop publishing and >>graphic design, public relations and advertising. >>For a consultation or free estimate on your project call the >>Communications Unit at (02) 8267 4307. > > >------------------------------------------------------ >- You are subscribed to the mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] >- To unsubscribe, email [EMAIL PROTECTED] and put in the message body 'unsubscribe >insights-l' (ell, not one (1)) >See: http://nsw.uca.org.au/lists.htm >------------------------------------------------------ Sue Bolton Sydney, Australia ------------------------------------------------------ - You are subscribed to the mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] - To unsubscribe, email [EMAIL PROTECTED] and put in the message body 'unsubscribe insights-l' (ell, not one (1)) See: http://nsw.uca.org.au/lists.htm ------------------------------------------------------
